Heisman straw poll: Travis Hunter’s pose matches early voting, but Jalen Milroe lurks

Travis Hunter struck the Heisman pose. Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams connected on what will be one of 2024’s best plays. Ashton Jeanty created one of those on his own. Cam Ward made an improbable escape.

And that’s the entirety of the representation in The Athletic’s first weekly Heisman straw poll of the 2024 season. Hunter, Colorado’s do-everything, play-every-play cornerback and receiver, leads the way, getting 19 of 25 first-place votes and totaling 67 points. Milroe, the Alabama quarterback whose 75-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Williams delivered victory over Georgia after a 28-point lead had been squandered, came in second (six first-place votes, 41 points).

No one else received a first-place vote, but Jeanty’s nation-leading rushing exploits placed him third with 30 points. The Athletic follows the same voting protocol as that of the Heisman: three points for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote, one point for a third-place vote.

Ward, who has been spectacular for Miami and leads the nation with 18 touchdown passes, had his best moment yet Friday, eluding multiple would-be sackers and flipping the ball out of trouble for the key play in a comeback win over Virginia Tech. He was fourth and Williams, the Alabama freshman whose spin, hesitation and acceleration finished that electric game-winner, received a vote.

ABSOLUTELY UNREAL SEQUENCE FROM CAM WARD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FyIy5cPnwJ

— ESPN (@espn) September 28, 2024

That’s an exclusive group for September. A year ago in our first poll, 11 players got at least one vote. But there’s still plenty of time for others to play their way into the conversation. Georgia’s Carson Beck might be in it had his wildly up-and-down night at Alabama ended in victory.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, Missouri receiver Luther Burden III, Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan and others have opportunities ahead. How about that other absurdly gifted freshman receiver, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith? Eventual 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, currently carving up the NFL as a Washington Commanders rookie quarterback, had a single third-place vote in last year’s initial poll.

Daniels was the 12th winner of the past 14 to play quarterback, the exceptions being Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith in 2020 and Alabama running back Derrick Henry in 2015. Jeanty’s start makes him a threat to become the first running back since Henry to win it. He leads the nation with 845 yards — at 10.3 per carry — and 13 rushing touchdowns.

One of those was a tackle-breaking 59-yard sprint to the end zone in a Saturday win over Washington State that warrants a million replays, just like the Milroe-to-Williams theatrics. As tough as it may be to win a Heisman at Boise State, if Jeanty stays close to this pace all season he should at least be in New York on Dec. 14 watching that play at the Heisman ceremony.

Ashton Jeanty made Washington State’s defense look like a JV squad. I’ve never seen more forced missed tackles on a RB tape.

Just watch these 5 clips. #RB1 pic.twitter.com/kVZGdYLBeR

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 29, 2024

And Hunter will be a test of voters’ willingness to stray from the norm of favoring the best quarterbacks on the best teams. He looks like the best player in college football right now. He’s a true two-way player, unlike the lone defensive player to win the award, Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997. Hunter is tied for third nationally in receptions (46) and touchdown catches (six) and is eighth with 112.2 yards per game.

In Colorado’s 48-21 win Saturday at UCF, he had a touchdown catch and a brilliant interception — dropping into a zone, reading a short pass, accelerating and diving for the pick — and then struck the pose. If the 4-1 Buffaloes keep winning and he keeps producing numbers and “wow” moments, that could prove prophetic.

(Photo: Chris Leduc / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)